Dusting machine



Sept. 7, i937.

E. M. BRlcKET-r ET AI.A

DUSTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l Sept 7, 1937. E. M.BRICKETT ET AL 2,092,693

DUSTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, 1935 5 shees-sheet 2 Sept. 7, 1937. 1E.M. BRICKETT ET Al. 2,092,693

DUSTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 7, 19.357'.sI E. M. BRlcKl-:TT ET AL Y 2,092,693

DUSTING MACHINE i Filed Aug. 23, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 -E. M. BRlcKET-rET AL DUSTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25

Sept. 7, 1937.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNITED Ysrmss certes PATENTortica DU STIN G MACHINE Application August 23, 1935, Serial No. 37,558

17 Claims. (Cl. 19-85) This invention is a novel machine for separatingand cleaning materials, such as wool, and otherbrous materials, and isan improvement on the machines shown in Brown et al. application SerialNo. 713,062, iled February 26, 1934.

One object of the invention is to provide a screen chamber having meansfor adjusting the screen sections, whereby the distance between the pinson the rotary beater and the screen sections can be varied as requiredby the nature of the material being treated.

Another object is to provide novel means fo-r removing impurities whichmay pass through the upper screen sections, and for controlling the aircurrents in the duster exterior to said upper screen sections.

Another object is to provide novel means "fo-r removing the impuritieswhich may pass through the lower screen sections.

Other minor features of the invention Will be hereinafter pointed out.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a machine embodying the invention;and we will first explain the same in detail with reference to saiddrawings; and thereafter summarize in the claims the Various novelfeatures of construction and novel combination of parts for whichprotection is desired. Y

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the complete machine. Fig. 2 is aright hand end elevation of said machine. Fig. 3 is a left hand, ordrive, end elevation thereof. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of saidmachine, partly broken away. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic section throughthe lower screen sections and frame. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of saidmachine, partly broken away.

The machine casing I is preferably made of metal and has top, front,rear, and end walls; and a bottom suitably connected together.

Rctatably mounted in said casing is a rotary beater comprising acylindric shell 2, having end plates 2a mounted upon a horizontal shaft3journaled in suitable bearings 3a on the `end walls of the casing.Within cylinder 2 are spaced spiders or disks 2b xed on shaft 3 andcarrying a plurality of channel members 2c adjacent to and supportingthe shell 2. Projecting radially from the periphery of shell 2 are pins2d, which are preferably mounted on thc channel members 2c.

Within the casing below the beater are arcuate screen sections Ilextending from a point adjacent `the feed inlet opening la in the upperportion of the front Wall of the casing and curving down- -and the endsof the rotor pins has a pronounced 5 wardly under the beater andextending to a point adjacent the discharge opening in the rear wall ofthe beater; said screen sections being spaced from the periphery ofcylinder 2 sufiiciently to clear the pins 2d.

Above the beater are 4arcuate screen sections 6 extending upwardly froma point adjacent the discharge opening,` and partly over the top of thebeater toward the feed inlet. 'I'he upper end of screen sections E areconnected to a plate-6a 10 that extends tangentially of the beater Aandtoward the feed opening. The annular space `between the periphery of thecylinder Zand the screens 4 and '6 forms a screening chamberin which thematerial being treated is confined dur- 15 ing the beating operation.

The mounting of the screens The screens 4 and 6 are preferably attachedto frames which in turn are so mounted that they 20 may be moved toward,or away from, the beater,

thus governing the clearance between the ends attached to the bottomframe, and three to the top frame as indicated.

As shown the lower ends of the lowerscreen sections 4 are preferablyslipped over studs 4e 35 on rods 4c, retained'by cotters, andv theirupper ends are attached to bolts 4f which `are adjustably attached torod 4d, and by tightening bolts if the screens 4 can be drawn taut. The`upper screens 6 are preferably engaged with studs 6h on rods Gf and (inon plate 6a and retained by cotters inserted through the studs. Theplate Ea is adjustable horizontally, and screen 6 can be drawn taut vbybolts 6i engaging rods 6g, in a manner similar to that used on the lowerscreens. 45 As it is desirable to use different types of screens fordifferent types of material, or for the procurement of different resultsin the treatment of a given material, orin case of injury to a screen,the detachable feature of the screens is of great .50 advantage in thereplacementof a screen section.

Adustment olf clearance The amount of clearance between the screens CFIeiTect upon the treatment of the material in the duster, and it isdesirable to provide means for varying this clearance in order to obtainoptimum results in the treatment of various kinds or conditions ofmaterial.

For this purpose the rods 4c and Bf extend through slots in the endwalls of the casing and are adjustable laterally in the slots by meansof set screws. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the rods 4c can be adjusted bymeans of set screws 4h tapped through brackets 4i on the casing; an-dthe rods 4d, Gf and 6g may be similarly held and adjusted. In Fig. 1 theframes and screens are shown at the position of minimum clearance.

The space between the upper end of screen 4 and the wall of the casingbelow the feed opening may be closed by a plate 4p, and the spacebetween the lower end of screen 4 and the discharge outlet may be closedby a plate 4Q, as shown in Fig. 1.

Throw-out pocket In order to prevent knotting or rolling of fibrousmaterial we provide a throw-out pocket in the screening chamber. Asshown in Fig. 1, below the forward end of plate 6a, is a downwardlyextending impact plate 6b', which is preferably hinged at its 'upper endand is adjustable. The impact plate 6b extends downward, approximatelyvertically toward the upper end of screen 4 and adjacent the feedopening la in the casing, ,the infed material passing into the screeningchamber between the lower end of plate 6b and the upper end of screen 4.The angular space formed between the impact plate 6bA and plate 6a formsa throw-out pocket and as the beater rotates, the fibrous material isthrown by the pins 2d into the pocket and against impact plate 6b, andthe shock loosens dirt and foreign matter in the material, and resultsin a threshing and opening up of the material. The plate 6b momentarilystops the material thrown thereagainst, such material subsequentlyfalling back into the path of the pins 2d in a free and unconned state;the pins striking the stock returned into their path with high velocity,thereby insuring thorough loosening of the dirt and extraneous foreignmatters, as more fully explained in the aforesaid Brown et al.application.

The impact plate 6h may be adjusted to an angularity of approximately 90with respect to a plane tangent to the upper periphery of the cylinder 2which will give maximum cleaning without rolling or knotting the stock.Plate 6b may be adjusted by means of slotted brackets 6d fastened to theplate, and engaging bolts 6e attached to the end walls of the casing.The impact plate 6b is in reality composed of three plates 619|, 6192,and 6133. The middle plate, 652 may be moved up or down, as indicated bydotted lines on Figure 1, and is clamped in position by the bolts Bf. Bythe movement of the plate 6272 the efective length of the impact plate6b is adjustable and in operation is so adjusted that the material inthe duster is passed across the gap from the impact plate 6b` to thelower screen plate 4p and the lower screen 4 with no loss of materialout through the feed inlet la).

Discharge door The outlet or discharge opening is located between therear lower ends of screens 4 and 6, and is closable by a door 5,attached at its lower end to a rock shaft 5b (Fig. 1). When this door isclosed (as shown in full lines in Fig. 1) the material will be retainedin the screening chamber. When the door is opened (as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 1) the batch of material will be discharge-d.

The door 5 has attached to its inner Side a screen section 5a which whenthe door is closed increases the screening area. The outer wall of thedoor will direct screenings passing through screen 5a to an 'underlyingdischarge conveyor 'l hereinafter described. Door 5 may be normallyclosed and held closed by any suitable means. As shown in Fig. 2 a lever5c is attached to one end of shaft 5b outside the casing and carries aweight 5d which holds the door normally closed. The door is preferablyautomatically operated as hereinafter explained. On the upper end of thedoor is a gasket 5g adapted to make close contact with a plate 6g belowthe rod 6J when the door is closed.

Screening discharge The screenings which pass through screens 4 and 5d`may be removed by any suitable means. Preferably we provide an endlessconveyor 'l to move the screenings to a screw conveyor 8 which in thesides of the casing, and to' these chains are attached scraper bars la.Preferably the sprockets 'ib have their peripheries beveled between theteeth so that the screenings will not pack thereon and clog thesprockets. driven by any suitable means so as to cause the lower run ofthe conveyor to move toward the rear of the casing, and the scrapers lawill move the material deposited on the bottom plate 1d into the trough8a of a screw conveyor 8 extending longitudinally of the machine andwhich will discharge the screenings out of the casing. The trough 8a ofconveyor 8 may be closed at its lower and outer sides, and its upperside may be closed by a plate 8e attached to angle iron Ig and channel If, an adjustable plate Ih` on the angle iron i Ig making a close fitagainst the shaft 5b of the door so as to prevent dust and dirt leavingthe d'uster at this point. Preferably conveyor 8 discharges into asecondary conveyor i8 (Figs. 4 and 6) of any suitable kind that removesthe screenings to a desired point of deposit.

Beneath the upper end of the screen 4 and above the forward end of theconveyor l is an opening in the casing, which opening is normally closedby a plate Ibl which acts as a chute to direct screenings fallingthereon onto the conveyor l. Said plate may be removed when desired toobtain access to the interior of the casing. The end of the conveyor 'Eextending beneath the chute Ib may be covered by a plate 'le so as toprevent air entering the casing. The bottom plate 'ld is upturned as at'if to meet the plate 'le and to prevent entry of air beneath the chuteIb.

The heavier screenings passing through the screen 6 can drop into thetrough 9a of screw conveyor 9 by which the screenings are discharged outof the casing; and preferably into a trunk 9c by which they areconducted into the conveyor I8 (see Fig. 4)

To prevent dust collecting on the upper part of the screen 6 and toremove light screenings passing through the screen 6, we provide meansfor maintaining an air suction in the upper part of the casing above thescreen 6 and conveyor 9. As shown in Fig. l air is admitted to this Theshafts 'lc may be space through an opening tc in the casing; the size ofwhich opening is regulable by a slidable plate IS which is adjustable bymeans of bolts lila and adjusting nuts. The air is withdrawn i from thisspace through an outlet opening ld in the top ofthe casing surrounded bya flanged collar lic which may be connected by a dust duct l lx to anysuitable suction means not shown. At the side of outlet ld adjacent airinlet lc is a curved plate l l which is adapted to cause a slightdownward deflection of the air before it passes into outlet ld. At theopposite side of said outlet is an adjustable baille plate lla, which isso shaped that its lower end lle is substantially vertical adjacent thescreen 6, and above this it is curved as at Hb, to cause a smooth upwardflow of air into the suction dust duct (not shown) connected to thecollar llc. The baffle Ha may be adjustably held in position by a boltand wing nuts Md. When the top screen 6 is moved to change thebeater-pin clearance, as above described, the baiile plate Ha may beadjusted accordingly.

The balile plate il obviates air eddies at the air exit opening; Adefinite air suction should be `maintained across the space betweenopening lc` and outlet Idi, and the baffle plate lla is purposely shapedas described so that the area of definite suction is somewhat removedfrom the screen, and is therefore less likely to pull fibres through thescreen. With the parts arranged as shown in Fig. l there are nohorizontal surfaces on which dirt or screenings may lodge; and thegentle suction maintained will carry off all light particles through thescreen 6, and the heavy creenings will drop down to the conveyor 9 andbe removed thereby.

Some of the air withdrawn at the outlet id is drawn in through the airinlet opening lc, as indicated by the tailed arrows in Fig. l; and someenters at the feed inlet of the machine and is drawn through the topscreenl as indicated by the tailless arrows in said figure.

It is desirable to maintain a slight in-draft at the feed opening la. toprevent any loss of dust or stock at this point; this is accomplished byso adjusting the extent of opening lc that the portion of air drawn inat the feed opening will be sufficient for the required iii-draft. Inour cluster we preventthe lodging of heavy dirt or screenings onhorizontal parts by so locating the dust take-off and so arranging thescreen and baille plate that there is no point where the heavy dirt cancollect.

The drive The beater may be driven at uniform speed by any suitablemeans. As indicated in Fig. 3 a pulley 3c on shaft 3 may be geared orbelted direct to a motor or other source of power not shown. rIheconveyor 'l may be driven by reduced gearing or belting from the shaft3. In Fig. 3 a sprocket or gear 'ig on the shaft lc is driven by a beltor chain 'lh from a pinion Ila on a stub shaft Hb. Said pinion I'ld isattached to the shaft I'Ib as is the sprocket I'Ic which is driven by abelt or chain i'ld from a pinion or sprocket |30. on a stub shaft |31).Said pinion i3d is attached to the shaft I3bl as is sprocket i3 which isdriven by a belt or' chain l3c from a pinion or sprocket 3b on theadjacent end of `the beater shaft 3. This arrangement gives the desiredreduction of speed between the beater shaft and the conveyor 1. Theconveyor maybe operated by means of a pin- The material to be operatedupon may kbe fed into the machine through the feed opening la by anysuitable means. We preferably employ an endless conveyor i2 (Fig. l)running over pulleys 42a which may be driven by any suitable means (notshown) and which is preferably operated intermittently as hereinafterexplained. We also preferably use a gravital roller i212` above theinner roller lia and cooperating therewith to retain material lying onthe lip of the conveyor i2 and prevent this material from dropping intothe duster after the conveyor l2 has stopped.

In the ends of the machine (Figs. 2 and 3) may be provided openings forclean out and inspection purposes, which openings are closed by doorsi4. We also `provide register-like openings in the end walls of thecasing which are adjustable and closable by means of slidable valves l5adjustable by means of threaded rods l5@ and wing nuts as indicated.Through these openings a small amount of air can be admitted and pass intoward and around the ends of the beater, thereby preventing thematerial being operated upon from getting in between the ends of thebeater and the end walls of the duster. i

In the operation of our machine we preferably provide means for varyingthe time of the dusting operation or treatment of batches of material inaccordance with the quality of the material and the amount of impuritiestherein. For this purpose we may use means for controlling the stockfeed and discharge independently of l the means for rotating the beateras shown and described in the application of Brown et al. above referredto, sothat the time required for feeding in batches of Vmaterial anddischarging same after it is dusted, can remain constant while the timerequired for the dusting can be varied according to the 4quality of thematerial being treated. This timing means does not form a feature of thepresent invention and therefore it is unnecessary to illustrate ordescribe the same herein.

We claimr 1. In a machine of the character specified; a rotary beater, aplurality of screen sections disposed around and enclosing the beater,means forl independently adjusting the screen sections radially of thebeater to vary the clearance between the beater and screen sections, anair chamber exterior to the upper screen, an air inlet to said airchamber exterior to said screen, an air outlet from said chamberexterior to said screen, and a baffle in said air chamber adjacent theair outlet, a feed opening between the upper and lower screen sectionsat one side of the beater, a discharge opening between the upper i andlower screen'rsections at the opposite side of the beater, and a doorfor closing said discharge opening. i

2. In a machine of the character specified; a rotary beater, upper andlower screen sections disposed around the beater, a feed opening betweenupper and lower screen sections at one side of the beater, a dischargeopening between upper and lower screen sections at the opposite side ofthe beater, a door for closing said discharge opening, an endlessconveyor below the lower screen sections for removing the screeningsdropped through the lower screen sections, a conveyor adjacent the lowerend of the upper screen sections to remove screenings passed through theupper screen sections; and a suction chamber above the upper screensections having an air inlet and an air outlet exterior to the screensections.

3. In a machine as set forth in claim 2, an adjustable baile platearranged in the said suction chamber between the screen and the airoutlet, and a curved plate in said suction chamber adjacent the side ofthe outlet opposite the balile plate.

4. In a machine of the character specified; a rotary beater, upper andlower screen sections disposed around and at opposite sides of thebeater, a feed opening between the upper and lower screen sections atone side of the beater, a discharge opening between upper and lowerscreen sections at the opposite side of the beater, a chamber receivingthe screenings from the lower screen section, a screen door for closingsaid discharge opening, a plate on said door behind the screen directingscreenings into the chamber, and an endless conveyor in the chamber forremoving the screenings dropped through the lower screen sections andscreen door.

5. In a machine of the character specified; a rotary beater, upper andlower screen sections disposed around the beater, means for adjustingthe screen sections radially of the beater to vary the clearance betweenthe beater and screen sections, a leed opening between upper and lowerscreen sections at one side of the beater, a discharge opening betweenupper and lower screen sections at the opposite side of the beater, adoor for closing said discharge opening, a screen attached to the door;a suction chamber above the upper screen sections having an air inletand an air outlet exterior to the said sections, a baiiie plate arrangedin said chamber adjacent the air outlet, and a conveyor in said chamberadjacent the lower ends of the upper screen sections to remove heavierscreenings passing through the upper screen sections.

6. In a machine of the character speoied; a rotary beater, upper andlower screen sections disposed around the beater, means for adjustingthe screen sections radially of the beater to vary the clearance betweenthe beater and screen sections, a feed opening between upper and lowerscreen sections at one side of the beater, a discharge opening betweenupper and lower screen sections at the opposite side of the beater, adoor for closing said discharge opening, a screen attached to the innerside of the door, an endless conveyor below the lower screen sectionsand door for removing screenings dropped through the lower screensection and door screen; a suction chamber above the upper screensection having an air inlet exterior to the screens and an air outletthrough which air is withdrawn by suction, a baiile plate arranged inthe suction chamber adjacent the air outlet; and a conveyor adjacent thelower end of the upper screen.

'7. In apparatus of the character specified; a casing having a feedinlet and discharge outlet,

a rotary beater having radially projecting pins, a lower frame arrangedbetween the inlet and outlet, a plurality of iiexible and extensiblescreen sections detachably attached to said frame, an upper framearranged between the inlet and outlet, and a plurality of flexible andextensible screen sections detachably attached to said upper frame.

8. In apparatus of the character specified; a casing having a feed inletand discharge outlet, a rotary beater having radially projecting pins, alower frame arranged between the inlet and discharge, a plurality ofexble and extensible screen sections detachably attached to said frame,an upper frame arranged between. the inlet and outlet, a plurality offlexible and extensible screen sections detachably attached to saidupper frame, and means for independently adjusting the said framesradially and circumferentially of the beater pins to vary the clearancebetween the beater pins and screen sections.

9. In apparatus of the character specified; a casing having a feed inletand discharge outlet, a rotary beater therein having radially projectingpins, a lower frame arranged between the inlet and outlet, a pluralityof screen sections detachably attached to said frame, an upper framearranged between the inlet and outlet, a plurality of screen sectionsdetachably attached to said upper frame, means for adjusting said framesradially of the beater to vary the clearance between the beater andscreen sections, an air charnber exterior to the upper screen, an airinlet to said air chamber exterior to said screen, an air outlet fromsaid chamber exterior to said screen, and a baiile in said air chamberadjacent the air outlet.

10. In a machine of the character specied; a casing having a feed inletand discharge outlet, a rotary beater having radially projecting pins, alower screen section arranged between the inlet and outlet, an upperscreen section between the inlet and outlet, a plate extendingtangentially from the upper end of said upper screen section, an impactplate forming with said plate a throwout pocket, a suction chamber abovethe upper screen section having an air inlet and an air outlet exteriorto the screens, a conveyor in said chamber adjacent the lower end of theupper screen section, and an endless conveyor arranged below the lowerscreens for discharging the screenings passing through the lower screensections.

ll. Apparatus of the character specified, comprising a casing having afeed inlet and discharge outlet, a rotary beater therein having radiallyprojecting pins, a lower screen section arranged between the inlet anddischarge, an upper screen section between the feed and discharge, aplate extending tangentially from the upper end of said upper screensection, an impact plate adjustably connected to said plate and formingtherewith a throw-out pocket, a door for closing the outlet, a screenattached to the inner side of the door and lying intermediate theaforesaid screen sections when the door is closed, a suction chamberabove the upper screen section having an air inlet and an air outlet, aconveyor in said chamber adjacent the lower end of the upper screensection, and an endless conveyor arranged below the lower screens anddoor for discharging the screenings passing through the lower screensand door screen.

12. In a machine of the character specied; a beater, upper and lowerscreens disposed at opposite sides of the beater, an outlet door screenintermediate the aforesaid screens at the rear side of the beater, afeed opening between the aforesaid screens at the front side of thebeater; a suction chamber above the upper screen, an air inlet to saidchamber exterior to the upper screen section, and an air outlet from.said chamber exterior to the upper screen.

13. In a machine as set forth in claim 12, a bafile plate in saidsuction chamberarranged adjacent the air outlet to prevent eddies in theair leaving the chamber.

14. In a machine as set forth in claim 12, means for independentlyadjusting the screens radially of the beater to vary the clearancebetween the beater pins and screen.

15. Apparatus of the character specied, comprising a casing having afeed inlet and discharge outlet, a rotary beater having radiallyprojecting pins, a lower screen arranged between the inlet and outlet;an upper screen arranged between the inlet and outlet, means foradjusting said screens radially of the beater to vary the clearancebetween the beater and screens, a plate connected to thefront end ofsaid up-per screen, and an adjustable impact plate connected to saidplate, an air chamber exterior to the upper screen,

an air inlet to said air chamber exterior to said screen, an air outletfrom said chamber exterior to said screen, and a baflle in said airchamber adjacent the air outlet.

16. In a machine of the character specified; a casing having a feedinlet and discharge outlet, a rotary beater having radially projectingpins, a lower screen arranged between the inlet and outlet, an upperscreen between the inlet and outlet, a plate extending tangentially fromthe upper end of said upper screen, an impact plate attached to saidplate, an air chamber exterior to the upper screen, an air inlet to saidair chamber exterior to said screen, an air outlet from said chamberexterior to said screen, and a baffle in said air chamber adjacent theair outlet, and an endless conveyor below the lower screen fordischarging the screenings passing therethrough.

17. In a machine of the character specified; a rotary beater, aplurality of flexible and extensible screens disposed above and belowthe beater, and means for independently adjusting the screens radiallyand circumferentially of the beater, to vary the clearance between thebeater pins and the screens.

EDWARD M. BRICKETT. SPENCER A. COLEMAN.

